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Mansour the new man for Panthers

Ben Horne

Explosive youngster Josh Mansour has put his hand up to be the new strike weapon at Penrith.

Following NSW star Michael Jennings' pre-season departure to the Sydney Roosters, the Panthers are in urgent need of a new dominant backline force capable of igniting an NRL campaign that seemed doomed a few weeks ago.

Mansour, who is in contention to play fullback for the Panthers, says he's determined to inject himself at every opportunity in 2013.

That's good news for Penrith, given Mansour managed to lead the league for tackle busts last season despite playing just 14 matches in his debut year.

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Jennings, a lightning fast centre with incredible feet, is a huge loss.

But Jennings often struggled to get his hands on the ball as much as Penrith needed him to.

Occasionally that was his lack of initiative, other times it was the fault of the playmakers inside him.

In Mansour, Penrith possess another speed demon, but one who relies more on size and raw power.

And he's determined to never go missing in action.

"I love getting involved as much as possible, I love to put my hand up even just to take a hit up out of our own end," Mansour told AAP.

"Whatever it takes to get the team going forward and to get us the two points each week.

"I would love to get more ball and I'm sure I will this year."

Mansour says he's been training mostly on the wing in the pre-season, but wants to play fullback in 2013.

The 22-year-old is taking more confidence into this year, and says the same applies for his teammates - despite the immense loss in personnel in Jennings, Luke Lewis and Michael Gordon.

Mansour said Penrith were well placed to replace Jennings in the centres, led by new recruits Wes Naiqama and Dean Whare - though both are also fighting it out for the No.1 jersey.

"It was a bit of a shock (to lose Jennings) but you've just got to carry on and move on," he said.

"Whare, he's a Kiwi international and he's young so he's got a lot of years ahead of him. Plus you've got Wes, he's got a great deal of NRL experience and he has also played under Wayne Bennett at Newcastle."

Penrith general manager Phil Gould has hinted this pre-season that the Panthers will have to tough it out in 2013, before their young players become more experienced and the club is in a better position to recruit in the seasons ahead.

However, Mansour said for the players, there was no concept of this being a rebuilding year.

"All we focus on is trying to keep the team together. We've got good chemistry around the boys. I'm pretty confident this year," he said.